Multiitntt tank cas



M. MAURAN Nov. 23 ,1926.

MULT IUNIT TANK CAR Filed June 24, 1924 2 Sheets-Sheetl l lNvENToR Nav. 2s 192e. 1,608,225

^ M. MAURAN MULTIUNIT TANK GAR Filed June 24, 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Nov. 23, i926. y

UNITED STATES sereni" MAX MAURAN, OF NIAGARA FALLS, NEW' YORK, ASSIGNR TC) EI-EE lii-.THEESGN ALKALI WORKS, NC., 0F NEW YRH,

MULTNIT Application filed .Tune 241.,

This invention relates to improvements in multiple unit tank cars for the transportation of liquefied gases.

In the transportation of liquefied gases such as liqueed chlorine, liquefied sulphur dioxide, etc., it has been necessary heretofore to ship the liquefied gases in relatively small containers, of one ton capacity or less, especially designed and constructed for withstanding the high pressures of the liquefied gases contained therein. rlhe shipment of the liquefied gases in this Way involves an excessive cost for the containers and for freight charges in their transportation since the containers must be returned empty. The amount of the liquefied gases which can be transported in such a container, moreover, is limited, for only about fifteen one-ton containers can be directly secured on a car of usual size, so that the load is only fifteen tons of liquefied gas, or onehalf the normal load of a tank car.

Tank cars Which have a single large tank are unsatisfactory for transporting liquefied gases It difficult to prevent injury or weakening of the tanks, especially by corrosion when corrosive gases are transported and Where it is necessary to insulate the tanks to prevent them from Voverheating during transportation. Also the transportation of such gases in acar having a single tank presents a potential risk of a major order in case of accident to the car.

Since tank cars employed lfor the purpose of transporting `liquefied gases are ordinarily so constructed as to be adapted simply for this one purpose, it is desirable that the car be nsed to its utmost capacity since the tanks must be returned empty and consequently one stage of the journey is unprofitable. 1' l j The present invention, therefore, is directed to the provision of a multi-tank car which permits the transportation of liquefied gases in large containers, these containcrs 1seing of such a size as to make possible the transportation of greater quantities of the liquefied material than has been heretofore possible. Also the car constructed according to the present invention permits of the shipment of the material with equal safety although the tanks are of greater size than heretofore used, and this car affords numerous further advantages by reason of the vfacility With which the material may be N. Y., :A CORPRATON OF VERS-INEA.

TANK CARM.

1924. Serial No. 722,042.

Withdrawn from the tanks either inl the liquid or gaseous form.

The car of the present invention involves the use of a relatively small `number of tanks, each of which contains a considerable quantity of the liquefied. gases. rllhese tank. are constructed so as to withstand safely the pressures involved and are firmly and securely mounted on the car so as to form a substantially integral part thereof, being capable, however, of removal therefrom should occasion arise.

ln transporting such materials confined under heavy pressure in tanks, it is important, especially when the liquid is of a highly noXious and destructive character, not only to insure that the tanks are held securely in place, but these tanks should be designed so that they do not have aconsiderable longitudinal dimension s0 as to prevent the end thrust or Water hammer effect which is of great importance and may result in damage in the case of a long car by reason of the tendency of the liquid to pile up at one end or the other whenever the motion of the car is suddenly started or stopped. rlhe multi-tank car of the present invention is constructed to minimize this effect and to prevent injury to the tanks While the car is in transit, due to strains to Which the mooring of the tanks is subjected.

According to the present invention the car structure is especially strengthened at those points Where the greatest strains are placed and the tanks are designed so that a quantity lof the gases having a Weight at least equal to the minimum car load tonnage may be transported. By this construe tion, therefore, the capacity of the car is utilized to the best advantage and it follows that the transporting of the gases is much less expensive than was previously the case since the car is fully loaded in one stage of the journey. Furthermore, the individual tanks are sodesigned that their contents may be removed either in the gaseous or liquid form and the connections are such that the several tanks may be emptied simultaneously, or else the contents may he Withdrawn from one tank at a time. Various other advantages incidental to the construction nonT to he described will be apparent from the following more detailed construction.

llhe construction of the car Which l now lll-5 consider preferable involves the use oit a main structural element comprising a eentral box girder which runs lengthwise of the car body and is supported on trucks at either end. The car preferably is of sutlicient size to carry tour tanks, each of which contains about seven and one-halt tons olf liquid chlorine. rlhese tanks are generally cylindrical in terma having domed ends, and are arranged with their axes lying lenfrthwise of the car. Extending' 'from ei h .ce of the central girder are supporting menibers forming cross beams, and these cross beams are arranged in pairs so that each tank lies over and is supported by two cross beams. The tanks rest on cradle members which are suitably' secured to the cross beams and each cradle member extends entirely beneath the tank so that the tank resting en the cradle member is supported in part by the central girder and the cross beams. rlhe cradle members are also provided with suitable strap members which encircle the container and holdr it in place on the cradle. Mounted on the central girder, between each pair of tanks,r and also at the outer end of" each end tank, are small cradle members in the form or" blocks which serve to prevent the longitudinal movement ot the tanks and also provide a support for them. lilith this arrangement the tanks are held in place securely and the weight or" each tank which` when full, is quite great, is so tali up by the car framework 'that the stresses are evenly distributed and no part et the car structure is subjected to undue strains.

It desired, the car may be tloored over and insulating material supported by the loor may be used to enclose the tanks. rlhe cradle members on which the tanks are supported are so arranged that the tanks are supported clear ot' the iloor level so that the insulation may extend completely around the tanks. The purpose oi the installation is to introduce a time factor so that in the tanks are subjected to excessive heat a considerable interval will elapse le'lore the temperature of the liquefied gases rise to a point where undue strains are placed on the tank body. The mass or" insulation which may be used to encase all ot the tank mounted on the car, may, in turnx be encased within a sheathing` of suitable materia-l, and running` boards may be mounted along the ends ot the cross beams and also along the sheathing near the top oit the tanks. The tanks are provided with the usual valved draw-oil connections at the top, and the running boards permit access to these valves. Also, draw-oli1 connections may be provided so that the contents ot the tanks may be discharged either in the gaseous or liquid form, and these draw-ctt connections may be connected to mains extending throughout the length et the car so that the several tanks may be discharged through a single connection.

lt will be seen that with the construction thus briefly de^"ribed, the tonnage capacity oi the car is utilized to the best a ".vantage, since the total weight of material which may be transported in these large t nks approximates the actual tonnage capacity oit the car and is much greater than the tonnage which can be carried in small containers. such have heretofore been used. mounted individually in place and rest en their cradle members with a slight wedging action, so that the tanks are firmly held in position and no securing devices are required which pass through the tank shell. rlhis is a matter of great importance in tlieicase of tanks which contain large quantities of liquid and which are subjected to considerable strains during transportation, owing to the movement of the liquid. Also, the tanks which are employed in the new ear may be readily kept clean, which is importantwhen liquids of a corrosive character are being transported. The tanks, while designed primarily `tor the shipment of material such as liqueiied chlorine, which is transported at a pressure et trom .75 to l0() pounds per square inch. may also be used `for other liquefied gases1 such as liquelied sulphur dioxide. Also, this car is advantageously used in the transportation oit gasoline, and particularly of casing head gas, which contains large quantities of light and readily volatile constituents which must be maintained under a substantial pressure during transportation.

ln the accompanying drawings there is illustrated that construction ot the multitank car ot the present invention which is now considered most at vantageous, and in these drawings,

Fig. l represents a side elevation et' the car with parts in section,

Fig. 2 is a top plan view et the car showing one tank in section taken substantially' on the line 2*?, of Fig. l, and.

Fig. 3 is a transverse vert-ical cross-section through one et the tanks and the car body.

Referring now to these drawings, the ear is shown as having a central box girder d which extends throughout the length ot the car. This girder is built up of plates and angle members in any convenient way so as to have the necessary strength and rigidity and it has a greater depth at the middle than at ither end, as shown in Fig. l. llt the ends it rests on trucks, (not. illustrated. but the position ot which is generally indicated by the wheels shown diagrammatically at rllhe car here illustrated. is designed to carry four tanks which are placedA end to cud throughout its length.y and in order to support these tanks the central girder is provided with a plurality ot cross beams 6.

The tanks are llt) Each cross beam is built up of plates and angle members so as to have the necessary strength and rigidity and each cross beam is in two parts so that the complete beam extends from one edge of the car to the other. Extending longitudinally of the car at either end of the cross beams, is a plate member 7 which connects the ends ofthe beams and adds to the strength of the frame. lt is desirable to provide two of these cross beams located in the proper relation beneath each of the tanks, and consequently in a four tank car there are eight cross beams, and at either end of the car there is a cross frame member 8 which completes the structure and to which the drawbar connections are attached. The cross beams are placed symmetrically under the tanks so that the weight is distributed evenly. 'Vhile the car frame construction just described is that which is considered most desirable, it is clear that various other constructions may be employed, provided the frame has the necessary strength to carry the weight of the tanks and is so arranged as to provide a convenient means of anchoring the tanks in place. Each tank as shown is of substantially cylindrical form, having a cylindrical body portion 9 with rounded ends 10. The longitudinal axis of the tank lies substantially in the longitudinal axis of the car, and the tank is preferably made by welding so that it may be considered one continuous piece of metal. Each tank is of a size sufficient to contain a considerable quantity of the liquid contents and as illustrated, the tank is intended to contain 71/2 tons of liquid chlorine. Each tank is supported in place by means of a cradle which is formed of four members. There is a transverse cradle member 11 riveted or otherwise secured on top of each cross beam. This cradle member has a cent-ral curved des pression 12 which conforms substantially to the contour of the cylindrical portion of the tank. The tank consequently rests with its cylindrical surface received in the curved portions of a pair of these transverse cradle members. At the end of the end tank there is an additional cradle member 13, which is riveted or otherwise secured to the boX girder. This cradle member has a curved portion 14 conforming generally to the curvature of the end of the tank, and between a pair of tanks is a double cradle member 15, secured to the box girder and having curved portions 16 at either end which conforms to the curvature of the tank ends. The cradle member between each tank is, in general, similar to that indicated at 13, but is arranged to cooperate with two of the tanks, one on either side of it. These transverse and longitudinal girder members may be of any desired construction, but are so formed that when the tank is placed therein its weight causes it tobe anchored quite firmly in place and the cradle members have portions which extend up about the lowest point on the tank to provide stops against lateral and longitudinal movement of the tank.

The tank is further held in place in the cradle so formed, by means of girth straps 17 which encircle the tank and which are secured at their ends to any convenient part of the car frame. As shown, the transverse cradle members l1 are somewhat U-shaped in cross section, and the ends of the straps extend through holes drilled in the flat upper edge of these cradle members and are held in place by means of nuts and lock nuts 18. lt is not essential that this arrangen'ient should be followed, but it provides an advantageous means of anchoring the tank in position. It is intended that the tank shall forni substantially a part of the car and that the contents of the tank shall be placed therein and removed therefrom while the tank is on the car, but should it be necessary, for any reason, to remove the tank, as, for instance, for purposes of repairing, it will be seen that this operation is carried on without diiiiculty. Also, it will be noted that this tank is held firmly in position but without the use vof any devices which extend through the shell of the tank. Consequently any strains to which the tank and its mounting may be subjected during transportation can cause no leakage, since there are no bolts or rivets through the tank wall and there is no possibility of leakage due to the shearing or straining of a rivet or bolt.

it its upper end each tank is provided with a manhole 19, having the usual cover 20 in which may be mounted safety devices such as are commonly employed. Extending through the cover plate are draw-off pipes 21 and 22. rl`he pipe 21 extends downwardly into the tank and at its lower end enters a depression 23 formed in the lower cylindrical wall of the tank. The draw-olf pipe 21 provides a. means for removing the contents of the tank in liquid form, and the depression permits the contents of the tank to be entirely removed in the event that t-hev car is resting on a track which is slightly inclined. rthe draw-oil0 pipe Q2 extends only a short distance into the tank and is intended for the removal of the contents in gaseous form. Beyond the cover plate 2O these pipes are provided with the usual valves 24 and 25, and these valves are protected by means of a housing QG, having` a cover 27 which may be easily removed when the valves are to be operated. Each valve has an outlet i ipe Q8 extending through the wall of the housing, and as shown in 2 these outlet pipes are connected to mains 29 and 30 exe tending throughout the length of the group of tanks. Between each pair of tanks each main has an expansion bend 3l 'for the usual purpose and the. mains are provided at suitable points with couplings or other devices by which a connection may be made to the container on the ground into which the contents are to be delivered.

In order to protect the tanks troni vdamage which might result from sudden expansion ot the contents, the tanks are insulation, indicated generally at Any convenient form et insulating` material may be used tor this purpose, as, for instance, inag'nesia compounds. rl`his insulating material is held in place in part by floor plates which extend throughe-utthe length of the series of tanks and provide a door ot sufiicient width to support trie. necessary quant-ity of insulation to enclose the tanks. rllhese iioor plates may be. ot any light construction, having` sutlicient strength for the purpose. rl`fhe insulation is held in place and protected from the weather by means ot a housing 34 which entends throughout the length ot the tanks, and i,y made of light metal construction. rt its upper surtace the housing is curved to contorni to the upper surt'ace of the tanks, and with this arrangement a `body of insulation may be emplovec which extends down between the tanks and beneath the1u,thus enclosing` all portions ot' the tanks and protecting the contents most satisfactorily from temperature changes. Extending along this housing,` and secured in place thereon by suitable brackets 255, are runways 36 which provide a convenient means to permit the workman to operate the tank valves. Extending down atabout the central point of the car are ladders 37 by means of which the workman may reach the runways 3G. Also extending along the ends of the cross beams on either side ot the tank are running boards 3S tor the 'trainmen, and it desired hand rails may be sel to the outer surface ot the housing' cured 34 at a convenient height above these running' boards, to insure the safety ot the brakeman.

lt will be see-nthat the multi-tank car of the present invention is of simple construction, but` neif'ertheless et great strength and the tanks held securely in position and thus prevented 'from movement which might cause injury, which would, in turn, result in leakage. ln each case they tank is held in place on the car in such a way that there are no rivets or bolts which pass through the tank wall. Thus any strains to which the ear is subjected cannot result` in injury to the tanks by straining,` a rivet. rlhe securing` means is wholly exterior to the tank and is so arranged that tank may easily be removed should occasion arise, though it is to be understood, ot course, that. ordinarily the tanks will be kept in place and the contents introduced and removed l W ially reduced and it will be understood that in tank ears or this character it is most unusual for the car to be used for transportation during' its return journey. incre consequently a loss in transportatic-n, but in the present instance this loss is krat t a minimum because ot the greater uuantitv A or' mate ial which can be handled in the outward journey. rlhis tank car provides amorous advantages over those which are in the torni ot single tank, since there hrt very little strain placed on each tank i transportation, owing to the shittthe contents. Furthermore, with this jp 4tank it is possible to make use oit ecuring means as shown, none ot which pass through the tank wall. These tanks also are so designed that they may be easily cleaned and kept in proper condition.

lllhile the present car is illustrated as being built up ot a trame made ot a box girder and cross beams, various other trame constructions could be employed, provided the desired strength and rigidity were secured. Also, instead ot usino a door which is somewhat closely limited to the area covered by the tanks, it is possible to extend this lioor throughoutthe entire framework, in which it would be unnecessary to provide the running boards 3S. The present construction, how-ever, is preferred by reason ot the less expense involved. f

l cle-in Y l. ln a car ot the type described, the combination ot a body comprisinv a central gi der and a plurality ot cross beams, a plurality of cylindrical centaines mounted on the body end to end in a. single row with their long; axes placed lengthwise of the body, a cradle member mounted over eah cross beam and extending across the ce tral grider, each container resting` on a pi ir ot cradle members, and means for convlhiina' the containers in their cradles.

2. ln a ear ot the type described, the combination ot a body comprising' a central lonnjitudinal girder and a 1plurality oit cross beams arranged in pairs, a plurality of cylindrical containers mounted on the body end to end in a single row with their long axes lengthwise of the body, a cradle member mounted on and secured to each cross beam, each container resting on a pair of these cradle members and a cradle member secured to the central girder and engaging the heads ot the containers Ior preventing their longitudinal displacement.

3. In a car ot the type described, the combination of a body comprising a longitudinal girder and cross beams, arranged in pairs throughout its length, a plurality of cylindrical containers mounted on the body in a single row with their long axes parallel to the long axis of the body, each container being disposed over a pair oi' cross beams, a floor mounted on the body, a cradle member secured to each cross beam tor supporting one end o1E a container in spaced relation to the floor, and cradle members secured to the longitudinal girder between the containers for preventing their longitudinal movement.

1l. ln a car of the type described, the combination of a body comprising a longitudinal girder and cross beams, arranged in pairs throughout its length, a plurality ot cylindrical containers mounted on the body with their long axes parallel to the long axis of the body, each container being disposed over a pair ot cross beams, a :floor on the body, a cradle member secured to each cross beam for supporting one end of a container in spaced relation to the floor, cradle members secured to the longitudinal girder between the containers and serving to prevent their longitudinal movement, and a body ot insulation encasing the containers, part ot this insulation lying between the bottom surfaces of the containers and the floor.

5. In a car of the class described, the combination of a body, a plurality ot cylindrical containers mounted thereon, draw-olf connections for each container at the top thereof, and a main ruiming lengthwise of the car body and connecting the draw-oit connections.

6. In a car of the class described, the combination ot a body, a plurality ot cylindrical containers mounted thereon in a row, draw-oil' connections tor each container disposed at the top thereof, a main connecting the draw-off connections of the several containers and a running board mounted on the containers and extending` throughout the row. v

7. In a car of the class described, the combination ofV a body comprising a central girder and a plurality of cross beams arranged in pairs, a floor on the body, a plurality of cylindrical containers mounted on the body in a single row with their long axes lengthwise of the body, cradle members on the body for securing the containers in place, the weight of each container being taken by a pair of cross beams and the central gil-der, a body ot insulation encasing each container', a housing on the top of each container extending through the body of insulation, and draw-oli' connections having outlets within the housing.

8. In a car ot the class described, the combination of a body, a plurality of cylindrical containers mounted thereon end to end, with their long axes parallel to the long axis of the body, draw-ott connections for each container located at the'top thereof, and a ruiming board mounted on the containers and extending throughout the series.

9. ln a car of the class described, the combination ci' a body, a plurality of cylindrical containers mounted thereon end 'to end, with their long axes parallel to the long axis of the body, cradle members on the body for supporting each container in spaced relation to the body and for preventing lateral and longitudinal displacement of the containers, means for holding the containers in their cradles and insulation substantially enclosingthe containers and their holding means.

l0. ln a car of the type described, the combination of a body comprising a central girder and cross beams, a cradle member mounted on and secured to each cross beam, a plurality of cylindrical containers supported on pairs ci the cradle members end to end along the body with their long axes parallel to the long axis of the body, means for holding the containers in place and secured to the said cradle members, and a plurality of cradle members secured to the central. girder between the containers and engaging the heads of the latter to prevent their longitudinal and lateral displacement.

1l. ln a car ot' the type described, the combination of a body comprising a central girder and cross beams, cylindrical con tainers mounted on the body end to end with their long axes parallel to the long axis of ythe body, a cradle member resting on and secured to each cross beam, and cradle members on the central girder at the ends of each container, each container being supported by a pair ot' each kind ot cradle members.

l2. ln a car of the type described, the combination of a body, cylindrical containers mounted on the body end to end with their long axes parallel to the long axis of the body, cradle members on the body for receiving the containers and preventing their longitudinal and lateral displacement, means for conlining the containers in the cradles, insulation completely n-encasing all or" the containers, and a protective sheath ing enclosing the insulation and all of theV containers.

13. In a car of the type described, the

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combination of a body comprising a girder and cross beams arranged in pairs throughout its length, a plurality ot cylindrical containers mounted on the body end to end with their long axes parallel to the axis of the body, each container being supported over a pair of cross beams, means on the body for supporting the containers thereon and tor preventing their lateral and longitudinal displacement, means for securing each container in position on the supporting means, a body of insulation encasing all oi" the containers, and a protect-ive sheathing for enclosing the body of insulation.

le. In a car oi the type described, the combination of a body comprising a eentral girder and cross beams arranged in pairs along the latter, a plurality of cylindrical containers mounted end to end along the body, each container resting' upon a pair of cross beams, cradle members mounted on the girder and cross beams yfor supporting the containers, these cradle members beingl so formed as to prevent the longitudinal and lateral displacement ot the containers, draw-oit connections on the top oiE each eontainer, a body et insulation enclosing all of the Containers, and a protective sheathing for the body ot insulating enclosing all the containers While exposing the draw-oli' connections.

l5. In a car orc the type described, the

combination of a central girder extending longitudinally ot the car, eross beams secured to the Central girder and extending from one side 'to the other of the ear, a cradle member resting on' and secured to each Cross beam and having a central depression to receive a cylindrical container lying longitudinally ot the car body, and cradle members secured to the Central girder between pairs ot the cross beams and adaptetL to engage the heads of contai ers resting on a pair the cradle me nbers iirstmentioned.

16. ln a oar ot the type described, the Combination ot a body Comprising a central girder and a plurality ot' cross beams, a cradle member resting on and secured to each cross beam and also resting on the central girder, a plurality of cylindrical containers, each oi which rests on a pair of the said cradle members, cradle men'ihers secured to the central girder at the ends of the Containers and adapted to abut these ends to prevent longitudinal displacement et the Containers, means secured to the cradle members first mentioned for holding the Cradle members in position and insulation substantially enclosing the containers and the holdingl means ln testimony whereof' I ailix my signature.

MAX MAURNT. 

